How do you classify these?

Ice

Water

Steam

The 3 states of matter

Learning Objectives:

• to classify materials as either solids, liquids or gases.

• to explain the physical properties of solids, liquids and gases.

7G Solids, liquids and gases - In a state!

solid liquid gas

fixed shape

fixed volume

Fill in the table with the answers to these testing questions:

Does it have a fixed shape?Does it have a fixed volume?

7G Solids, liquids and gases - In a state!

solid liquid gas

Is it easy to squash?

Does it conduct heat well?

Can it spread out?

Can it stretch?

Is it heavy for its size?

Now answer some more testing questions about a solid, a liquid and a gas.

Solid, Liquid or Gas?

air water concrete rubber

jelly sugar hot custard jam

honey metal paper steam

pencil foam rubber tomato sauce sand

toothpaste cold custard Plasticine stone

Solid or Liquid?

• Some substances have properties which make it difficult for us to decide whether they are really solids or liquids. Sand is a good example.

Solid or Liquid?

• If you look at individual grains of sand, you can see that they have definite shapes. Each grain is very hard, and keeps its shape. You can make wet sand into a sand castle.

• But if you have a bucket full of dry sand, you can pour it. The ability to flow is a property of liquids but not solids, so sand appears to have the properties of both.

1 Write down all the reasons why you might think sand is a solid.

2 Why might we also think that sand is a liquid?

Choose one item. Describe the material, without mentioning its name, so that your

friend can guess what the material is.

Describing

4 Is the material a solid or a liquid?

a Write down all the reasons for thinking it is a solid.

b Write down all the reasons for thinking it is a liquid.

c Can it change? For instance, is custard always runny? How can you make it change?

5 Now answer questions 3 and 4 again for one of the other materials.

Solid, liquid or gas?

Solid, liquid or gas?

The 3 states of matter

Learning Objectives:

• to classify materials as either solids, liquids or gases.

• to explain the physical properties of solids, liquids and gases.